"Entered a Potential Nuclear Conflict Zone"... Russia Warns of Unusual Movements in Nuclear Weapon Operating Units

UN Secretary-General "Russia Must Ensure Nuclear Facility Safety"
Putin Strengthens Nuclear Weapons Unit Alert Status Last Month

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] As Russia's invasion of Ukraine intensifies, concerns are growing in the international community that Russia might use nuclear weapons. The movements of Russia's nuclear weapons units are becoming increasingly suspicious.

On the 14th (local time), Ant?nio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, held a brief press conference at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA, stating, "The possibility of a nuclear conflict, once unthinkable, has now returned to the realm of possibility." This marks a reversal of his stance less than a month after denying the possibility of nuclear conflict on the 28th of last month as "unimaginable."

He referred to Russia's seizure of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine and the attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest nuclear facility, saying, "Whether accidental or deliberate, the escalation of war threatens all humanity. Russia must ensure the safety of nuclear facilities."

On the same day (14th), former Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, former Munich Security Conference Chairman Wolfgang Ischinger, former UK Deputy Defense Secretary Des Browne, and other foreign policy experts from various countries issued a joint statement calling for a ceasefire. Referring to the fighting near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, they warned, "This is the most recent example reminding us how a nuclear disaster can surface amid the fog of war," and added, "The first step to reduce the risks of accidents, mistakes, or miscalculations is a ceasefire."

On the 19th (local time), Russian troops conducted a launch training of the 'Yar' intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at the Kura training ground. / Photo by the Russian Ministry of Defense

Earlier, on the 27th of last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the military command to place nuclear deterrence forces on high alert. He issued the order stating, "Western countries are not only taking unfriendly actions against Russia in the economic sector but even high-ranking officials of NATO member countries are making aggressive remarks against Russia."

This was revealed as a retaliatory measure against Western pressure, including excluding Russian banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) payment network and directly sanctioning President Putin.

Meanwhile, according to the Arms Control Association (ACA), as of last year, there are approximately 13,080 nuclear warheads worldwide, with an estimated 6,300 and 5,600 warheads held by Russia and the United States, respectively. Accurate information related to nuclear programs is treated as classified by the respective countries, so the exact numbers are unknown.

According to the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), extended last September, Russia has deployed 1,458 strategic nuclear warheads across 527 strategic nuclear delivery systems, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and strategic bombers.

According to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), Russia's total nuclear warhead stockpile, including these numbers, is about 4,497, with approximately 1,760 retired warheads awaiting dismantlement.

In contrast, the United States has deployed 1,389 strategic nuclear warheads across 665 strategic delivery systems and maintains a stockpile of 3,750 warheads, with about 1,800 retired warheads.

Besides the United States and Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom, recognized as nuclear-weapon states under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), are estimated to possess approximately 350, 290, and 225 nuclear warheads respectively as of last year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.